Following the announcement by fellow retailers Wickes and B&Q that they will stop selling products containing harmful neonicotinoid chemicals, Homebase has become the latest retailer to take action on insecticides linked to bee decline.

In a statement on Wednesday, the store said "As a precautionary measure Homebase have removed from sale the Bayer Lawn Grub Killer which contains imidacloprid."

Imidacloprid, along with thiamethoxam and clothianidin, were found by the EU risk assessment agency EFSA to pose an "unacceptable threat" to bees in a review of evidence earlier this month.

Friends of the Earth's Head of Campaigns Andrew Pendleton, who welcomed moves by the other stores earlier in the week, described the decision as "fantastic news" and said the retailers’ actions are putting pressure on the UK government respond, given the weight of evidence linking neonicotinoids to harmful effects on bee populations.

He said. "It's time for the Government to act responsibly - Ministers must suspend from sale the three neonicotinoids named by European food safety experts earlier this month. David Cameron must also introduce a National Bee Action Plan to protect these key pollinators."